Change your cars oil and oil filter

#9 Higher Viscosity, Lower Friction

We have discussed friction and air and tyre resistance earlier. Generally the less friction the better. Even though it is unlikely there will be significant improvements in fuel economy, changing the car’s oil and oil filter will assist to keep the engine well lubricated and minimise internal engine friction, resistance and the need for a costly car repair bill.

Refer to your car’s owner manual for details of the type of oil recommended for your car and the frequency for flushing and replacement. Most manufacturers recommend the oil and oil filter being replaced every service or every second service.

Call 13 20 42 for ACE Mobile Mechanics should your car be due for a service.

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Spark Plug Inginition

#8 Keep Your Spark Fresh

Spark plugs delivering spark to the combustion chamber need to provide sufficient spark at the right time. Spark plugs are located within the engine, operating in a hostile environment that is extremely hot and pressured. Carbon deposits and impurities build up through use and time which reduce the effectiveness of the spark plugs and the effectiveness of the engine to produce power.

There are a variety of spark plugs for a number of applications and vehicles. Standard spark plugs usually maintain their performance for 10,000km to 20,000km. These should be checked and replaced during a regular car service, which your car owners manual should have recommendations. However, there are some premium (non-standard) spark plugs, like platinum spark plugs, that last longer such as up to 100,000km.

Call 13 20 42 for your ACE Mobile Mechanics should your vehicle be due for its car service.

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ACE Mobile Mechanics
Car Service | Roadside Assistance | Vehicle Inspection
CALL 13 20 42
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Car Fuel Injectors

#7 Fuel Injection – Time for a Bath?

To have better fuel economy, a more predictable and efficient burn in the cylinder is needed and therefore clean fuel injectors that provide a more even fuel-air mix are needed. To illustrate this refer to the photos:

• The top picture shows the spray pattern of a dirty fuel injector
• The bottom picture shows the full flow spray pattern from a clean injector

How do fuel injectors become dirty?

Contrary to air filters and what would seem logical, fuel injectors become dirty mostly from the fuel itself and not from dirt or debris in the fuel (unless the car’s fuel filter has not been performing or has not been replaced regularly).

Petrol contains waxy compounds that can leave varnish deposits at the injector pintle when the fuel evaporates. This commonly occurs after the engine is turned off. The heat that is generated from the engine evaporates the residual fuel in the injector tips, leaving a deposit of varnish. These deposits in the nozzle build up and restrict fuel flow or disrupt the injector’s spray pattern (as seen above). On many late-model engines, the shape and direction of the spray pattern is critical for clean combustion and good performance. If the injector nozzle is dirty, the pattern may be distorted or deflected to one side, causing a lean spot in the combustion chamber that can cause misfire, or even pre-ignition or detonation and can cause car engine problems.

What tolerance is there for injectors? The simple answer is it does not very much of a restriction in an injector to lean out the fuel mixture. To put a measure on it, an 8% to 10% restriction in a single fuel injector can be enough to upset the air/fuel mixture and cause a misfire.

There are two main methods of cleaning fuel injectors. The fuel injectors can be cleaned on an inline basis (on car) or better still by having them removed and given and ultrasonic bath. If your injectors have performed close to or over 100,000 km without being thoroughly cleaned, your fuel economy will certainly improve once services and cleaned, translating into direct savings.

Call 13 20 42 for your ACE Mobile Mechanics should your fuel injectors are due for a clean and service.

About the Author
ACE Mobile Mechanics
Car Service | Roadside Assistance | Vehicle Inspection
CALL 13 20 42
www.acemobile.com.au